I had the pleasure of meeting Jamuna Thangavelu at Navigo Seminar. She is a powerhouse of energy and ideas! As the Director of Engineering at Warner Bros. Discovery, she brings passion, brilliance, and a fresh perspective to the world of AI and test automation.
When I asked her if she would like to be featured on our website, she graciously accepted. My only concern was regarding the comprehensibility of the article. However, the interview turned out to be a fun and perceptive discussion that’s not only inspiring for tech enthusiasts but also accessible to anyone curious about how AI is shaping the future. Get ready to hear her inspiring and down-to-earth take on innovation, leadership, and having fun while doing it all!
What’s the most exciting part of your role as Global Digital Quality Transformation & Engineering leader in GCC’s? What makes you jump out of bed every morning and say, “This is going to be awesome!”?
Instilling a deep-seated culture of quality across all levels and geographies is a passion that I hold very close to my heart. I am on a mission to inspire young minds to thoughtfully embrace the pursuit of excellence, ensuring that quality is at the forefront of everything they undertake through deliberate and intelligent efforts. Every day, I am inspired by the profound satisfaction of making a meaningful difference in the lives of consumers by delivering products of unparalleled quality, thus leaving a lasting impact on their world.
You’re going to be talking about leveling up test automation with Gen AI. If Gen AI were a superhero, what superpowers would it have to make test automation even cooler and more efficient?
If Gen AI were a superhero, its superpowers would include:
– Self-healing automation, dynamically adapting scripts to system changes without human intervention.
– Intelligent test generation-based solution that converts plain language requirements into executable test cases.
– Predictive defect detection, identifying vulnerabilities before they manifest.
Improved prioritization, focusing efforts on high-risk areas to amplify effect.
On a lighter note, with Gen AI, I’d love to see a future where pager duty alerts are eliminated, rendering such tools completely obsolete! 
These capabilities would redefine test automation, elevating it to unprecedented levels of intelligence, efficiency, and adaptability.
Test automation can sometimes feel like trying to hit a moving target. What’s the funniest or most unexpected thing you’ve experienced while working with AI to improve testing?
That moment of utter surprise was when the AI, in an optimization process of test cases, reported a feature perfectly working as a ‘critical failure’ due to its incorrect assumption that a smiley face in the UI is the error icon. A lot of laughter erupted in this session, but this example highlights how AI sometimes requires human intervention to distinguish between creativity and chaos.
Another instance was when the AI, tasked with generating test cases, automatically created a scenario to ‘order 10,000 bananas’ in an e-commerce app. It even validated the whole checkout flow flawlessly! While it was technically correct, it left us wondering if the AI was trying to tell us something about its potassium needs.
AI is often called a “black box,” but what’s the most mind-blowing thing you’ve discovered about how AI makes decisions that had you saying, “Wow, didn’t see that coming!”?
One of the most surprising discoveries was when AI, while analyzing test data, identified a pattern where a specific sequence of clicks on a website—something no one had thought to test—caused a performance issue. It wasn’t a common user behavior, but the AI connected the dots between seemingly unrelated actions and pinpointed a problem that had gone unnoticed. It is indeed a ‘wow’ moment showing how AI can reveal hidden insights that might not come out through traditional testing.
Example: Clicking on a product, adding it to the cart, and then using the browser’s “back” button to return to the search results before completing the checkout process. This could lead to data inconsistency or cache issues, which might not be caught during normal test cases but could be identified by AI when analyzing user interaction patterns.
AI can recognize these unconventional patterns and spot issues that would be difficult for manual testers to anticipate.
If you could add one AI feature to your team’s workflow that would make everything 10 times easier (or just more fun), what would it be?
I’d add an AI-powered ‘Snack Bot’ that knows when the team is hitting a productivity slump and automatically suggests the perfect snack based on our preferences—maybe a cookie for a quick pick-me-up or some brain-boosting nuts. It would make sure we’re fueled up and ready to conquer the next task with a smile
With all the shiny new tech tools and trends out there, how do you decide which ones are worth diving into and which ones are better off left for the next big wave?
I prioritize those that offer clear and measurable benefits to our workflow while being aligned with the company’s long-term goals and objectives. I always see how it can solve specific, existing challenges, makes improvements to efficiency, or provides better quality.
Secondly, I look at scalability support and adoption in its domain. If a technology offers sustainable value, is relevant, and meets most criteria, then it definitely bears exploring.
Otherwise, I keep watchful eyes, so that short-lived trends won’t sway us but instead strategic, future-ready investments.
As a busy leader driving innovation at a major company, do you have any fun hacks or tips for balancing work and life that help you keep things sane while juggling it all?
Balancing work and life, especially while driving innovation, requires intentionality and discipline.
One of my key strategies is time-blocking—carving out specific hours for deep work, meetings, and personal time. I also prioritize ‘micro-breaks,’ short moments throughout the day to reset and recharge, whether it’s a brief walk or a few minutes of mindfulness.
Additionally, I rely on delegation and empowering my team to take ownership, allowing me to focus on high-priority decisions without being bogged down in every detail.
Ultimately, staying adaptable and knowing when to say ‘no’ has been invaluable in maintaining a healthy balance and sustaining long-term productivity.